I’ve got white spots on my feet, have I got athlete’s foot?

Have I Got Athlete's Foot?

If you’ve found white spots on the bottom of your feet and they’re making you uncomfortable, you might be wondering if you’ve got athlete’s foot. But having a white spot on your foot doesn’t automatically mean it’s anything to worry about, and even if it is athlete’s foot, treatment is pretty straightforward. Read on as The Mix answers a reader’s question and explains what to do about white spots on your feet.

What can I do about white patches on my feet?

“I’ve got hard white patches of skin on the soles of my feet. They don’t hurt, but I’m embarrassed about them. My feet do sweat as I dance and live in my trainers. Could this be the cause of it? Is there a way to get rid of it without having to go to my doctor?”

What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is a bacterial infection that can be easily treated with a cream or powders available from a chemist or pharmacy. The white spots on your feet could be a sign of athlete’s foot, or they could be something else.

What else could white spots on your feet be?

From this description, the white patches on your feet sound more like a build up of hard skin, which is not unusual when your feet are hidden away in socks and trainers, especially during winter. If it’s dry skin you can use a foot file to help remove it (they look like a huge nail file) and then apply plenty of moisturising cream to help keep your feet soft and smooth. These items can be bought from a chemist or pharmacy. You could also invest in a professional pedicure.

White spots on the skin could also be calluses, especially if you’ve been wearing shoes that pinch your feet. These aren’t usually a serious problem, and can be treated in the same way as patches of hard skin. If the patches feel lumpy or painful it would be best to visit your doctor (GP). The good news is that it’s highly unlikely to be skin cancer or anything serious, foot problems like these are usually sorted very easily.

How to look after your feet

Even though you’re obviously aware of them, it’s likely that most people won’t notice them – but it’s understandable that you want your feet to look good. To help keep your feet looking and smelling nice, make sure you wear cotton socks – especially if you’re wearing trainers. If you can, it’s also a good idea to not wear the same pair of shoes for two days in a row.

Everybody’s feet sweat, especially whilst exercising. But if you’re worried about it you could buy in-soles for your shoes. Many of these help to combat sweaty feet and can also offer extra padding to prevent your shoes from rubbing and causing hard skin build-up.

Check out the rest of The Mix’s ‘your body’ articles here.